Moander
Encyclopedia
Moander is the god of rot and corruption in the Forgotten Realms
campaign setting of the Dungeons & Dragons
role-playing game.
Moander plays an important role in the novel Azure Bonds
(1988), by Kate Novak
and Jeff Grubb
.
(1991), and later Finder's Bane (1997), and Tymora's Luck (1998), all by Kate Novak and Jeff Grubb.
Moander was described fully in Faiths & Avatars
(1996). Moander's role in the ancient history of the Realms was detailed in Netheril: Empire of Magic (1996).
His role in the cosmology of the Planescape
campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground
(1996).
(2005).
.
In the time of Myth Drannor
, the Cormanthyr Elves battled the god and sealed his essence in a spell-bound brick amid the area that is present day Yulash, to be released only upon meeting certain conditions. These conditions were met in the 1350s DR and the God was released for a time as described in the Finder's Stone trilogy by Kate Novak
and Jeff Grubb
. The story culminates with Moander's death on his home plane at the hands of Finder Wyvernspur
who then takes the divine mantle for himself and becomes a demi-power of change in the arts.
Though Moander drifts among the bodies of other dead gods in the Astral plane, which provided an interesting level in the SSI computer game Pools of Darkness
, the god is not completely dead.
In 75 DR, Moander the Darkbringer hurled his forces and the "creeping evil" against the elven city of Tsornyl, blighting much of the surrounding woods. The magic of Moander twisted all life, both follower and victim alike, into corrupt monsters, including deepspawn and shambling mounds. While the evil could not be destroyed, High Magic severed the creeping evil from Moander and imprisoned the corruption at Tsornyl (soon to be called the Darkwatch). This weakened the Darkbringer's presence in Toril, though it cost the lives of thirty-two elves, including two High Mages, to sever and bind the power.
This evil still lurks in the area known as the Darkwatch and awaits a sliver of divine energy to return Moander to life.
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
campaign setting of the Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
role-playing game.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)
Moander was first described in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Sets "Cyclopedia of the Realms" booklet (1987), which describes Moander as "a dark and forgotten god of the Realms, whose main temple was in what is now ruined Yulash, and whose faith died years before the erection of the Standing Stone and the coming of the Dalesmen".Moander plays an important role in the novel Azure Bonds
Azure Bonds
Azure Bonds is a fantasy novel written by Kate Novak and Jeff Grubb and was originally published in 1988. It is the opening novel of the Finder’s Stone Trilogy which is set within the world of the Forgotten Realms. It served as the basis for the computer game, Curse of the Azure Bonds...
(1988), by Kate Novak
Kate Novak
Kate Novak grew up in Pittsburgh, where she graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BS in Chemistry. She is a fantasy author primarily published in the Forgotten Realms and Ravenloft shared worlds....
and Jeff Grubb
Jeff Grubb
Jeff Grubb is an author and game designer. He has worked on a number of computer and role-playing games and has written a number of successful novels, short stories and comics...
.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)
Moander also plays an important role in the novel Song of the SaurialsSong of the Saurials
Song of the Saurials is a fantasy novel by Kate Novak and Jeff Grubb set in the Forgotten Realms.-Plot:This novel is the final book of the Finders Stone Trilogy.-Characters:* Alias* Olive Ruskettle* Akabar bel Akash* Dragonbait...
(1991), and later Finder's Bane (1997), and Tymora's Luck (1998), all by Kate Novak and Jeff Grubb.
Moander was described fully in Faiths & Avatars
Faiths & Avatars
Faiths & Avatars is an Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Forgotten Realms campaign expansion book. The book was designed by Julia Martin with Eric L. Boyd, and additional design by Ed Greenwood, L. Richard Baker III, and David Wise...
(1996). Moander's role in the ancient history of the Realms was detailed in Netheril: Empire of Magic (1996).
His role in the cosmology of the Planescape
Planescape
Planescape is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by Zeb Cook. The Planescape setting was published in 1994...
campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground
On Hallowed Ground
On Hallowed Ground is an accessory book for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, for the Planescape campaign setting.-Contents:This book contains information about deities' planar domains from 20 separate pantheons...
(1996).
Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition (2000-2007)
Moander is described in Lost Empires of FaerûnLost Empires of Faerûn (accessory)
Lost Empires of Faerûn is a campaign supplement for the fictional Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:...
(2005).
History
Although the deity's origins have never been made clear, Moander appears throughout some of Faerun's earliest historical recordings and folklore. One legend holds him responsible for corrupting Tyche, the goddess of fate in ancient times, which resulted in the deity splitting into the two "sister" goddesses of fate that exists today, namely Tymora and BeshabaBeshaba
Beshaba, also called The Maid of the Misfortune, is a fictional deity of the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
.
In the time of Myth Drannor
Myth Drannor
Myth Drannor, formerly known as Cormanthor, the City of Song, is a fictional elven city in the Forgotten Realms world. It is located in the area called Cormanthyr.-Fictional history:...
, the Cormanthyr Elves battled the god and sealed his essence in a spell-bound brick amid the area that is present day Yulash, to be released only upon meeting certain conditions. These conditions were met in the 1350s DR and the God was released for a time as described in the Finder's Stone trilogy by Kate Novak
Kate Novak
Kate Novak grew up in Pittsburgh, where she graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BS in Chemistry. She is a fantasy author primarily published in the Forgotten Realms and Ravenloft shared worlds....
and Jeff Grubb
Jeff Grubb
Jeff Grubb is an author and game designer. He has worked on a number of computer and role-playing games and has written a number of successful novels, short stories and comics...
. The story culminates with Moander's death on his home plane at the hands of Finder Wyvernspur
Finder Wyvernspur
In the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Finder Wyvernspur is a relatively new power raised to divinity by acquiring the divine spark of the deceased god Moander....
who then takes the divine mantle for himself and becomes a demi-power of change in the arts.
Though Moander drifts among the bodies of other dead gods in the Astral plane, which provided an interesting level in the SSI computer game Pools of Darkness
Pools of Darkness
Pools of Darkness is the fourth in a four-part series of Forgotten Realms Dungeons & Dragons Gold Box adventure computer games, published by Strategic Simulations, Inc.. The game was released in 1991...
, the god is not completely dead.
In 75 DR, Moander the Darkbringer hurled his forces and the "creeping evil" against the elven city of Tsornyl, blighting much of the surrounding woods. The magic of Moander twisted all life, both follower and victim alike, into corrupt monsters, including deepspawn and shambling mounds. While the evil could not be destroyed, High Magic severed the creeping evil from Moander and imprisoned the corruption at Tsornyl (soon to be called the Darkwatch). This weakened the Darkbringer's presence in Toril, though it cost the lives of thirty-two elves, including two High Mages, to sever and bind the power.
This evil still lurks in the area known as the Darkwatch and awaits a sliver of divine energy to return Moander to life.
Additional reading
- Powers and Pantheons, Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition accessory, by Eric L. Boyd, TSR.
- Faiths and PantheonsFaiths and PantheonsFaiths and Pantheons is a campaign accessory for the 3rd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons, for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.-Contents:...
, Dungeons & Dragons 3e accessory, by Eric L. Boyd and Erik Mona, Wizards of the CoastWizards of the CoastWizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
.